Victoria-based company selected as preferred operator of a potential passenger service

Island Ferry Service has been selected as the preferred operator of a potential passenger service between Nanaimo and Vancouver.
Island Ferry Services operations director, David Marshall, says,"it's a good first step, it’s taken a long time to get to this point."
The location of the terminals is yet to be determined. The Victoria-based company says it’s in discussions with potential sites in Vancouver and continues to search for a terminal in Nanaimo.
Marshall says once negotiations are complete, it could take up to six months to start service on the route.
Fares will range, but could start at $24 one way, he says.

Under the Oceans Protection Plan, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, today announced an additional $72,000 to support the Vancouver Aquarium's Pollution Tracker, a monitoring program that will help identify the sources of contaminants in British Columbia's marine environment. In total, the Government of Canada has contributed approximately $470,000 towards the implementation of this program.